SIR TREVOR BROOKING: It was an honour to be at West Ham during the club’s glittering period of dominance and Martin Peters was at the heart of it
- Former England star Martin Peters passed away on Saturday at the age of 76
- Sir Trevor Brooking was an apprentice when Peters won the World Cup in 1966
- Peters, Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore guided West Ham during golden period
- Peters was a top class man to spend time with and was particularly humble
I was an apprentice coming through at West Ham when Martin Peters won the World Cup alongside Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore. It was amazing to be around the club at the time.
As a young player, it was a great feeling and I was very lucky to learn from players like that so early in my career.
Martin was a midfielder like me so you couldn’t help but learn from him. He scored more goals than me though!
Former West Ham and England star Martin Peters passed away at the age of 76 on Saturday
He had a great understanding with Geoff, a great crosser and header of the ball.
Those three led West Ham to the FA Cup in 1964, the 1965 Cup Winners’ Cup and the World Cup in 1966.
It was an honour to be a West Ham youngster in that unique period of the club’s life. Martin was at the heart of that.
He was a lovely, approachable man, who always made time for people.
Sir Trevor Brooking paid tribute to Peters who was at the heart of West Ham’s golden era
Sir Trevor was an apprentice at West Ham when Peters (C) lifted the World Cup in 1966
He was quiet, did not look too much for the limelight. He was someone who thoroughly enjoyed being a part of that time.
But I think it is only as each decade has gone by that we now, 50 years later, appreciate how amazing their achievement was. It has gained even greater significance.
It has been sad that in the last 10 to 15 years that those heroes have had their own issues and passed away.
Martin lived locally to us and it has been difficult for the family in recent years.
They, I am sure, will want everyone to remember Martin for what he was: a wonderful footballer, who achieved wonderful things, and a talented goalscorer.
More than anything though, a top-class man who was great to spend time with. A humble man. That word perhaps sums him up best.
He never looked for the plaudits but happy to enjoy his life. And he certainly did that.